EN 10028-7 X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 1.4507 Pressure Vessel Stainless Plate

EN 10028-7 X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 (1.4507) is an austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless steel, listed in EN 10028-7:2016 for flat products used in pressure equipment. It is delivered solution annealed (+AT) as cold-rolled strip (C) up to 8 mm, hot-rolled strip (H) up to 13.5 mm, hot-rolled plate (P) up to 50 mm, and plate in that condition has a minimum 0.2% proof strength of 490 MPa with a tensile strength of 690 – 890 MPa (Table 10). Its nearest ASTM counterpart is S32550, but the two specifications are not identical.

X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 1.4507 is described by two designations: the steel name X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3, which is built from the carbon content (in hundredths of a percent) and the main alloying elements with their approximate percentages, and the steel number 1.4507, which is the five-digit material number used throughout European standards. EN 10028-7 is Part 7 of the EN 10028 series, the harmonized European standard for flat steel products for pressure purposes, and the part that covers stainless steels. Plate certified to it can be used under the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU and design codes such as EN 13445, which is why every X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 pressure vessel plate we ship is tested to the 2016 edition.

X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 is a copper-alloyed super duplex (Ferralium 255 family). Copper (1.00 – 2.50%) improves resistance in sulfuric acid and in abrasive-corrosive service, while 24 – 26% chromium and 0.20 – 0.30% nitrogen give strength and pitting resistance close to 2507.

SHH STEEL is a stainless steel producer and exporter based in Shanghai. We act as sales agent for well-known mills, run our own processing warehouse for cutting, bevelling and polishing, and ship every EN 10028-7 stainless plate with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates. Buyers who already know the ASTM grade can compare this page with our GB/T 4237 03Cr25Ni6Mo3Cu2N S25554 page, and related grades sit in our stainless plate and sheet products.

Why designers specify 1.4507

Material selection for a pressure vessel starts from the design conditions: medium, design temperature, pressure and the minimum design metal temperature. Duplex grades are chosen when the designer wants about twice the proof strength of an austenitic grade together with high resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking, which allows thinner, lighter vessels. Because X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 is a harmonized EN 10028-7 grade, its proof strength values can be used directly for the nominal design stress in EN 13445-3, without a particular material appraisal, which shortens approvals on CE-marked equipment.

In short, EN 10028-7 1.4507 is the pressure-equipment certification of X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3; outside pressure equipment the same steel is sold to EN 10088-2. The specification of 1.4507 is the set of requirements in EN 10028-7:2016 that a plate must meet before it can be certified for pressure equipment. The summary below gives the clauses and tables that apply to this grade.

EN 10028-7 does not repeat the general delivery rules: it refers to EN 10028-1 for general requirements, to EN 10088-1 for physical properties, and to the EN ISO tolerance standards listed above. The maximum thicknesses in the table are those for which Table 10 gives mechanical property values; thicker material can be produced by some mills, but it falls outside the standard and the properties must be agreed separately.

Scope in plain terms

The standard covers flat products in the form of plate, sheet and strip. Product form C is cold-rolled strip and the sheet cut from it, form H is hot-rolled strip and the sheet or plate cut from it, and form P is hot-rolled plate rolled individually on a plate mill. Because the grade appears in more than one product form, the right row of the property table depends on how the material was rolled, not only on its thickness. The process route (1D, 2B and so on) must be named on the order, because the standard leaves the surface condition open.

The 1.4507 chemical composition is the cast (heat) analysis reported by the steelmaker for each heat, and it must fall within EN 10028-7:2016 Table 4. Values are in percent by mass; a single value is a maximum unless marked otherwise.

Product analysis tolerances (Table 5)

The product analysis is the composition measured on the finished plate. EN 10028-7 Table 5 sets how far it may deviate from the cast limits; the deviations below are applied to the X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 limits of Table 4.

The footnote to Table 5 matters for acceptance: if several product analyses are made on one cast, an element may lie above the maximum or below the minimum of the range, but not both. Calculated from the minimum chemistry, PREN = Cr + 3.3Mo + 16N gives about 37.1 for 1.4507, a ranking value used for pitting resistance.

Product analysis is a check analysis made on a sample taken from the delivered plate, and under EN 10028-7 it is carried out only when the purchaser requests it at the time of ordering (Table 16). The cast analysis is always reported.

When a product analysis is agreed, the order should state the number of samples and the elements to be determined. Samples are taken through the thickness or from millings so the result represents the whole cross-section, and the analysis method follows the reference methods cited by EN 10028-1. Results are judged against the cast limits widened by the Table 5 deviations shown above; a result outside those limits normally leads to retests on further samples before a plate or a test unit is rejected.

PMI and laboratory checks at SHH STEEL

Every plate that leaves our Shanghai warehouse is checked by positive material identification (PMI) with a handheld XRF analyser, which confirms chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper and the other heavier elements. XRF cannot measure carbon, nitrogen or boron, so when those elements decide the grade (as they do for X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3), we arrange spark-OES or combustion analysis through our material testing service. Product analysis results are added to the 3.1 certificate, or reported by the inspector on a 3.2 certificate.

Why the check matters

Mixed-up plates are a real risk in stock-holding: an 18-8 grade and a molybdenum or stabilized grade look identical, and a low-carbon grade cannot be told apart from its standard-carbon version without laboratory analysis. A product analysis or PMI record ties the physical plate to the certificate and protects the fabricator at the notified-body inspection.

The 1.4507 mechanical properties are the room-temperature minimum values in EN 10028-7:2016 Table 10 for material in the solution annealed (+AT) condition. Unlike ASTM A240, EN 10028-7 gives a separate row for each product form, so the rolling route matters as much as the thickness.

The transverse proof strength applies to products 300 mm wide and over; for narrower products the longitudinal values, 15 MPa lower, apply.

Impact energy and intergranular corrosion

Table 10 also sets Charpy V-notch impact energy and states whether the grade resists intergranular corrosion when tested to EN ISO 3651-2.

For comparison, the American plate specification GB/T 713.7 03Cr25Ni6Mo3Cu2N S25554 uses a single set of minimums for all thicknesses, so a plate that meets one standard does not automatically meet the other.

How designers use these values

Under EN 13445-3 the nominal design stress for duplex steel follows from the lower of Rp0.2/1.5 and Rm/2.4 at the calculation temperature. The room-temperature values above are therefore only the starting point; for operation above 50 °C the elevated-temperature values in the next section are used.

1.4507 solution annealing is the delivery heat treatment of X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3: Annex A of EN 10028-7 recommends 1 040 – 1 120 °C followed by cooling in water or air, cooling fast enough to avoid precipitation. Hot forming is carried out in the range of about 1 150 – 950 °C. The treatment sets the balance between austenite and ferrite and dissolves sigma and other intermetallic phases; cooling must be fast through the range of about 1 000 – 700 °C. Annex A values are guidelines; the actual temperature and cooling method are recorded on the mill certificate.

Heat treatment after fabrication

Annex B of EN 10028-7 covers post-weld and post-forming heat treatment. For duplex grades post-weld heat treatment is generally avoided; if it is needed after hot forming, only a full solution anneal followed by rapid cooling is acceptable, and Annex B mentions that preheating to about 120 – 200 °C may be used in some cases. Cold-formed heads and shells are checked against the forming-strain limits of the design code (for example EN 13445-4), which decide whether a heat treatment is needed.

What can go wrong

An incorrectly heat-treated plate shows up as high hardness, low elongation or poor impact energy, and in corrosion tests as intergranular attack. In highly alloyed grades, slow cooling or over-long holding promotes sigma and chi phases, which reduce toughness and pitting resistance. When plate arrives in our warehouse we check the heat-treatment record on the certificate against Annex A and the tensile results before releasing it.

The 1.4507 elevated temperature properties below are an essential input for hot equipment. Elevated-temperature properties are the minimum proof strengths that EN 10028-7 gives at temperatures above room temperature, and they are the values a designer uses to calculate the wall thickness of 1.4507 equipment operating hot.

The values come from Table 14, which stops at 250 °C. Annex C gives tensile strength values at temperature for the duplex grades. Above about 250 – 300 °C duplex steels risk 475 °C embrittlement of the ferrite, so pressure codes do not allow them at higher temperatures.

A X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 equivalent is a grade in another standard with similar chemistry and properties; it is a comparison, not an interchangeable certificate.

On 1.4507 vs S32550: the chemistry ranges overlap, but EN 10028-7 sets its own limits, its own strength values per product form and its own impact requirements. On steelspecs.com you can compare the related pages ASTM A240 Type 2507 and ASME SA240 2507. For background reading, see our plate processing techniques guide.

Substitution rules

Replacing 1.4507 with a foreign grade in PED equipment needs the agreement of the designer and, where applicable, the notified body, usually through a particular material appraisal. The reverse also applies: an ASME vessel cannot simply use EN 10028-7 plate without the code’s material rules. Where both certificates are needed, we can often arrange dual certification at the mill, provided both sets of chemistry and property limits are met in one heat.

Welding of X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 is done by GTAW, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW or SAW with 25 9 4 N L / 2594 type filler. Heat input is typically held between about 0.5 and 2.5 kJ/mm with interpass temperature at or below about 100 – 150 °C, so weld metal and heat-affected zone keep a sound phase balance. Pickling and passivation after welding restore the passive film in corrosive service.

Weld procedures for PED equipment are qualified to EN ISO 15614-1, and welders to EN ISO 9606-1. Where a fabricator lacks capacity, our welding team and partner workshops can prepare bevels and sub-assemblies. Our marine and offshore sector page shows the type of projects we supply.

Practical welding notes

• Clean the joint with stainless-only brushes and solvent; iron contamination leaves rust spots.
• Use argon with a small nitrogen addition to keep enough austenite in the weld.
• Avoid autogenous welds without filler, which give excessive ferrite.

Forming and cutting

Duplex plate needs roughly twice the forming force of austenitic plate and shows more springback; plasma, laser and waterjet cutting are all suitable, and heat-tinted edges should be ground before welding.

Corrosion resistance is the ability of the plate to stay passive in the process medium, and 1.4507 combines high pitting resistance with excellent resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking. Its minimum PREN is about 37.1; the 1.4507 PREN is therefore in the super duplex class.

The intergranular corrosion entries of Table 10 (yes in the delivery condition, yes in the sensitized or welded condition) tell the designer whether welds can be left without heat treatment. For comparison of pitting resistance across standards, see our ASTM A240 Type 2205 page.

Media guide

The table is general guidance. Final material selection should be based on the actual medium, temperature and concentration, and where possible on plant experience or corrosion testing.

Applications of X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 follow from its strength and corrosion behaviour. As a duplex stainless steel plate certified to EN 10028-7, it is used for:

• Sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid equipment
• Seawater and brine systems
• Scrubbers and flue-gas cleaning
• Abrasive-corrosive slurry service

Selection guidance by application

For storage tanks and low-pressure vessels the choice is usually driven by corrosion resistance and price, and plate thickness is moderate. For high-pressure or large-diameter vessels strength becomes important, and the duplex proof strength often allows a thinner wall than austenitic plate, which reduces weight, welding time and cost. For heat exchangers, the shells, channels and tube sheets often use different grades, and we can supply all of them in one order with consistent certification.

Every 1.4507 stainless steel plate supplied for these duties is traceable to its heat, which is essential for CE marking under the PED.

Comparing 1.4507 with its neighbours in EN 10028-7 shows where it fits: the differences come down to carbon, nitrogen, molybdenum and the stabilizing elements.

How to choose

Start from the corrosion requirement and the design temperature, then compare strength, availability and cost. Lean duplex 1.4362 replaces 304L or 316L on cost, 1.4462 covers most chloride duties, and the super duplex grades 1.4410, 1.4501 and 1.4507 are reserved for seawater and hot chlorides. Our engineers can review your design conditions and suggest the most economical grade. A related grade page on our site is AISI 329.

The dimensions of 1.4507 plate are limited by the product forms that EN 10028-7 lists for the grade and by the rolling capacity of the mill.

Weight per square metre is the thickness in millimetres multiplied by the density in g/cm³: with a density of about 7.8 g/cm³, a 10 mm plate weighs roughly 78 kg/m². Lengths are cut to order or supplied as mill lengths; for heads and dished ends we can supply circular blanks cut to the developed diameter.

Tolerance and flatness notes

For plate (form P), EN ISO 18286 gives thickness tolerance classes A to D and flatness classes; class B is a common choice for pressure vessels because it limits the negative tolerance. For strip and sheet cut from coil, EN ISO 9445-2 and EN ISO 9444-2 apply, and normal or special tolerances can be ordered. State the class on the order, since it decides the acceptance criteria.

Surface finish is the process route defined by the EN 10088-2 codes that EN 10028-7 Table 6 uses, and it must be named on the order for 1.4507.

We offer steel cutting services and polishing and finishing service in our Shanghai warehouse, along with bevel preparation and protective PE film.

Choosing a finish

1D is the standard finish for hot-rolled pressure vessel plate and suits shells, heads and parts that will be pickled after fabrication. Cold-rolled 2B is used for thin vessels, liners and parts where a smoother surface helps cleaning. Polished finishes are specified for hygienic vessels in food and pharmaceutical plants, where surface roughness limits are part of the design.

Testing and certification of 1.4507 follow EN 10028-7 Table 16 and EN 10028-1: each test unit is plate from the same cast, the same thickness range and the same heat-treatment batch.

• Cast analysis on every heat; product analysis when ordered (Table 16)
• Tensile test at room temperature per test unit, to EN ISO 6892-1, against Table 10
• Charpy V-notch impact test (EN ISO 148-1) for thickness of 6 mm and over, as required by Table 16
• Ferrite content and intermetallic-phase test (for example ASTM A923 type) by agreement
• Tensile test at elevated temperature by agreement (verification of Rp0.2 or Rp1.0)
• Intergranular corrosion test to EN ISO 3651-2 by agreement
• Visual and dimensional inspection; ultrasonic testing by agreement
• 100% PMI and dimensional check by SHH STEEL
• EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate; 3.2 with a third-party or purchaser’s inspector

Third-party inspection

For export and PED projects a 3.2 certificate is often required. An independent inspector then witnesses sampling and testing at the mill and countersigns the certificate. We coordinate SGS, BV, TUV, Lloyd’s or a client-named inspector and schedule witness points so inspection does not delay rolling. In our warehouse we check dimensions, flatness, surface and marking, and repeat PMI on each plate before packing.

For PED equipment in categories II to IV, EN 10028-7 plate is normally supplied with a 3.1 certificate issued by a manufacturer with a quality system assessed by a competent body; check the requirement with your notified body.

An order for X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 should identify the product, the standard and every option the standard leaves to agreement. The ordering example in EN 10028-7 follows a pattern like this:

10 plates, 8 × 2000 × 5000 mm, EN ISO 18286 tolerance class B, steel EN 10028-7 – X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 (1.4507)+AT, process route 1D, inspection certificate EN 10204 – 3.1.

• Standard and edition: EN 10028-7:2016
• Steel name or number: X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 / 1.4507 and heat-treatment condition
• Product form (C/H/P), thickness, width, length and quantity
• Tolerance standard and class
• Process route / surface finish (Table 6)
• Optional tests: product analysis, impact at a stated temperature, IGC, elevated-temperature tensile, UT
• Inspection document: EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, and the inspector for 3.2

Common ordering mistakes

• Ordering to EN 10088-2 instead of EN 10028-7 for pressure parts; EN 10088-2 plate is not certified for pressure purposes.
• Leaving out the process route, which the standard requires on the order.
• Not stating optional tests, which are only carried out if written into the contract.
• Specifying a thickness beyond the limit of the product form.

A short technical review before order placement avoids these problems, and our sales engineers do this as part of the quotation.

Mill sourcing for 1.4507 is handled through the mills we represent that are approved for this grade; we place a mill order and confirm the minimum quantity per thickness. Lead time for mill production is generally 30 – 40 days, and the rolling slot can be scheduled to suit your fabrication plan.

Every plate is traceable to its heat number, and copies of the mill certificates stay on file for repeat orders and audits. Mixed-grade and mixed-standard orders can be consolidated, so 1.4507 plate can ship with flanges, pipe or other grades in one container through our export logistics team.

Packing and export documents

Plates are packed on fumigated wooden or steel pallets with waterproof wrapping, edge protectors and steel straps, and each bundle is labelled with grade, standard, heat number, size and weight. Documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, mill certificates and certificate of origin. Browse our ASTM A240/A240M plate range and pressure vessel plate products for other plate standards we supply.

EN 10028-7 X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3 (1.4507) is an austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless steel, defined by Table 4 chemistry and Table 10 properties, with plate in the solution annealed (+AT) condition reaching Rp0.2 ≥ 490 MPa and Rm 690 – 890 MPa. Typical uses include sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid equipment and seawater and brine systems.

Before ordering, state the standard edition, the steel name and number, the product form, the process route and any optional tests, so that the certificate matches your design documents. SHH STEEL supplies 1.4507 from mill production in generally 30 – 40 days, with cutting and finishing in our own warehouse and EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates. Send your sizes and quantities for a quotation.